April Miller, left, smiles at her partner Karen Roberts a they share their first dance after renewing their vows in a public ceremony, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, in Morehead, Ky. Recently, same-sex marriage was signed into law in Ireland. AP Photo
DUBLIN, Ireland鈥擲ame-sex marriage was signed into law in Ireland on Thursday, five months after a historic referendum saw the traditionally Catholic nation become the world鈥檚 first country to vote for gay unions.
鈥淭he Presidential Commission today signed the 鈥楳arriage Bill 2015鈥� into law,鈥� the president鈥檚 office said in a statement, paving the way for the first weddings within a month.
Ireland voted 62.1 percent in favour of allowing marriage between two people 鈥渨ithout distinction as to their sex鈥� in May, the first time anywhere that gay marriage has been legalised in a referendum.
The president鈥檚 endorsement was the final hurdle for the bill after legal challenges briefly delayed the legislation from coming into effect.
The first ceremonies should be possible by mid-November, according to Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald.
Senator Katherine Zappone, who had long campaigned for her Canadian marriage to her wife to be recognised in Ireland, called it 鈥渁 defining moment.鈥�
鈥淚t is a deeply emotional moment for those of us who have campaigned for so long,鈥� Zappone said in a statement.
鈥淭his victory truly belongs to the nation, it is a moment for us all.鈥�
In a memorable moment that unfolded live on national television after the referendum result was announced, Zappone proposed to her wife Ann Louise Gilligan to re-marry her under Irish law.
International gay rights campaigners congratulated efforts by Irish activists to win public support for a 鈥淵es鈥� vote in the referendum.
鈥淭ribute must also be paid to national politicians in Ireland, as all the main political parties put aside their partisan differences to campaign for the greater goal of equality,鈥� Evelyne Paradis of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association said in a statement.
President Michael D Higgins is on a visit to the United States, so in his place the bill was signed by senior delegates of the Presidential Commission.
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